The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that India will not be traveling to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, following a communication from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The decision comes just days after PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi made it clear that Pakistan would not accept a “hybrid model” to host India for the prestigious tournament.
A PCB spokesperson confirmed on Sunday that they had received an email from the ICC, stating that BCCI had informed the governing body of India’s decision not to participate in the tournament, which is set to be hosted by Pakistan in February and March 2025. The PCB is now seeking advice and guidance from the Pakistani government regarding how to proceed in light of India’s refusal.
Naqvi, in a press briefing, reiterated that Pakistan would not host any of India’s matches at neutral venues. He emphasized, “No discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.” Naqvi also stressed that the majority of other participating cricket nations were looking forward to playing in Pakistan, despite India’s stance.
This development follows years of political tensions between India and Pakistan, which have kept the two cricketing rivals from playing bilateral series since 2013. India has not visited Pakistan since 2008, and their encounters are limited to multi-team events like the ICC tournaments.
In a significant moment for the region, Pakistan participated in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup in India, playing all its matches in the host country. However, India’s reluctance to visit Pakistan for the Champions Trophy has put a strain on the future of this historic tournament.
Pakistan won the last ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, famously defeating India in the final at The Oval. Hosting the 2025 tournament would be Pakistan’s first major ICC event since co-hosting the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka. However, India’s refusal to send its team could impact the tournament’s organization, especially after the 2023 Asia Cup, where India played all its matches in Sri Lanka due to the political situation.
While Pakistan continues to express optimism about hosting the event, it remains to be seen how the situation unfolds as the PCB looks for a resolution.
Source: Swifterdaio.com
